A new three-year action and research study into living well with young onset dementia has been announced by the University of Salford’s Institute for Dementia and Salford City Council.
Funded by a significant grant from the Booth Charities, the project will be run in partnership with people in Salford with experience of young onset dementia, both first-hand, and as informal carers or spouses. Users and staff of the Humphrey Booth Resource Centre in Swinton, and colleagues from other services, sectors, and support groups, will also be part of the project team.
Despite acknowledgment that developing a dementia in midlife is associated with Salford’s ‘ground-breaking’ new dementia study specific challenges, the Institute for Dementia says little is known about the needs of younger people with dementia – defined as those who receive a diagnosis before the age of 65.
The project will run individual and small group meetings across Salford to gain real-life insights into young onset dementia. Information from these will be fed into a main stakeholder advisory group comprising people with experience of young onset dementia.
The study is being overseen by a Steering Group comprising a range of service-providers and representatives from different sectors, chaired by Dr Anna Richardson from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.